Mandatory EcoCash account verification will soon determine whether millions of Zimbabweans keep access to their mobile money wallets.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mushayavanhu has directed that every EcoCash account be verified against the Registrar General’s National ID database before June 2026. Mobile money wallets that fail to complete the process face suspension.
Zimbabwe relies more heavily on mobile money than most African countries. Platforms such as EcoCash are widely used to pay salaries, settle school fees, buy groceries and move money between businesses. That scale has also made the system a target for financial fraud, including SIM-swap attacks and identity theft.
RBZ targets fraudulent mobile money accounts
The central bank said the verification exercise aims to eliminate unregistered or fraudulently created mobile money accounts that have been used in financial crime.
SIM-swap fraud remains one of the most common threats in Zimbabwe’s digital payments system. Criminals persuade a mobile operator to transfer a victim’s number to a new SIM card, allowing them to access mobile money wallets and bank accounts linked to that number.
“Mobile money platforms must maintain accurate customer identification and verification to safeguard the financial system,” RBZ Governor Dr John Mushayavanhu said when outlining the directive.
Linking EcoCash accounts directly to the Registrar General’s identity database creates a stronger identity trail for every mobile wallet holder, making it harder to register accounts using false information.
How EcoCash users can complete verification
For most users, the verification process requires presenting valid identity documents at an EcoCash or Econet agent.
Account holders must provide either a National ID card or a valid passport so their mobile number can be matched with records held by the Registrar General’s office.
EcoCash said some customers may also be able to complete verification through the EcoCash mobile application if their registration details already match the national database.
The central bank expects the exercise to clean up millions of records in the country’s mobile money system.
New consumer protection rules also introduced
Alongside the verification order, the RBZ introduced additional measures intended to make mobile money services more transparent and affordable.
Banks and mobile money providers have been instructed to remove balance inquiry fees that many customers complained were unclear.
The central bank also ordered that transactions below US$5 must be processed free of charge across the mobile money system. Regulators say the move is designed to encourage digital payments for small everyday purchases.
Zimbabwe’s mobile money ecosystem has grown rapidly over the past decade as economic instability and cash shortages pushed consumers toward electronic payments.
What the June 2026 deadline means
EcoCash users now have several months to complete the verification process before the June 2026 deadline.
Failure to verify an account could result in suspension of the wallet and loss of access to stored funds until identity details are confirmed.
For millions of Zimbabweans who rely on mobile money as their primary financial tool rather than a secondary banking option, missing that deadline could disrupt daily economic activity.
The central bank’s message is clear: verify your EcoCash account before the deadline or risk losing access to the country’s most widely used digital payment system.
